DepEd 6 prepares for normal resumption of classes by July 7
The Department of Education in Western Visayas said it is working overtime to make the schools ready to resume normal classes in all areas hard-hit by Typhoon "Frank" on Monday, July 7.
DepEd 6 Asst. Director Mildred Garay said that in their intensive monitoring of schools damaged or washed out by the floodwaters, they have advised all superintendents and principals to employ to the best they can all resources available so that classrooms are repaired, some facilities restored and the classrooms relatively conducive.
"Under the circumstances, where the classrooms are washed out, it is also difficult to make some makeshift structures conducive for quality learning," Dr. Garay said.
She said in the task of clearing, cleaning and reconstruction, DepEd is grateful to the local government units, concerned sectors and individuals including parents, for their continuing help.
Garay said it is not only preparing the school structures that they are addressing now, but also the psychological mindset of pupils who have been personally affected, whose families have suffered much and those who have lost members of their families in the tragedy.
She said DepEd's central office will be deploying psychologists/counselors to schools in typhoon-battered areas to conduct psychological dynamics and counseling sessions to deal with pupils experiencing trauma because of their tragic experiences during the calamity.
She added that they are also requesting their central office to make available for them excess books and other learning/instructional materials to be sent to the areas where school reords, books and facilities have been washed out.
The DepEd June 30 damage report showed an estimated cost of Php 62.7 million in textbooks, and instructional/reference materials, Ph83.7 million in chairs and tables, and Php 125.6 million in equipment including computers, television sets, CDs and VCDs. All costs are still adding.
For the clearing up, repair and rehabilitation work alone, Garay said, DepEd would need about Php33 million.
She further said that to fully restore educational services to normalcy, they have to undertake on a short term basis, the repair and rehabilitation of damaged school building, replacement of books and instructional materials as well as relocation of school sites, that needs an estimated cost of half a billion.
For the medium term, construction of school building and school site acquisition would be undertaken, needing about Php162 million, while a long term proposal would be for the replacement of equipment estimated to cost Php150 million, with the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry as possible sources. (PIA 6/ESS)